Known as the Palmetto State, South Carolina is a beautiful place to live and work. Its capital city is Columbia, while its largest city is Charleston. The climate is hot and humid, but for many, that is part of the state’s charm, along with classic Southern hospitality and culture. Indeed, that inviting attitude is one you will find not just in small rural communities, but even in the larger cities.
As one of the original thirteen colonies, you will find plenty of history to explore here. You can learn about the American Revolution as well as the Civil War and Reconstruction, and also discover more about the indigenous people who called the state home long before European settlers ever arrived.
The other exciting thing about moving to South Carolina is that you will be living in one of the most beautiful states along the Atlantic seaboard. Featuring the Piedmont Plateau, the Atlantic Coastal Plains and the Blue Ridge Mountains, South Carolina has something to offer every outdoor recreation enthusiast.
But will you make enough money working as a dental hygienist in South Carolina? Let’s take a look at the data provided by the US government.
South Carolina Dental Hygiene Programs
If you are ready to start on the educational pathway to becoming a dental hygienist in South Carolina, check out the list of schools in the state which are offering accredited programs below.
Institute | Address | Website | Program |
---|---|---|---|
Florence Darlington Technical College | 320 W. Cheves Street, Health Science Campus Florence, SC 29502 | www.fdtc.edu | AAS |
Greenville Technical College | P.O. Box 5616, S t a t i o n B , South Pleasantburg Greenville, SC 29606 | www.gvltec.edu | AAS |
Horry Georgetown Technical College | 3501 Pampas Drive Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 | www.hgtc.edu | AAS |
Midlands Technical College | P. O. Box 2408 Columbia, SC 29204 | www.midlandstech.edu | AS |
Trident Technical College | P.O.Box 118067 Charleston, SC 29423 | www.tridenttech.edu | AAS |
York Technical College | 452 S. Anderson Rd. Rock Hill, SC 29730 | www.yorktech.edu | AAS |
License Requirements
Here are the licensing requirements you will need to meet in order to become a qualified dental hygienist in South Carolina:
- Graduate from a dental hygiene program which is accredited by the American Dental Association (ADA).
- Pass the National Board Examination. You need to request that your scores be mailed directly to the board.
- Pass the clinical examination offered by CRDTS or ADEX-SRTA/NERB (CDCA). The exception is if you have an active license in another state already and have passed similar exam requirements or have practiced in 3 out of the past 5 years. As with the National Board Examination, results of your clinical exam need to be mailed to the board directly.
- Provide copies of all required documentation to prove your identity.
- Have an official transcript mailed to the board’s office, sealed and with the Registrar’s signature.
- Request a self-report from the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) and submit the report when you apply.
- If you answer any questions under Personal History Information with “Yes,” attach a written explanation.
- Log a minimum of 14 hours of board-approved continuing education within the past two years.
- Provide three letters of recommendation from licensed dentists.
- Pass the Jurisprudence Examination.
- Pay the $150 application fee.
Dental Hygienist Salary in South Carolina
First of all, the nationwide mean annual salary reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is $73,440, with the field growing at a rate of 20%. That means that there are plenty of opportunities cropping up in this field every day, and a chance to make good income.
So how do the employment numbers and salary figures in South Carolina compare to this nationwide average? Well, South Carolina has around 2900 dental hygienists working within state borders. Those dental hygienists are making around $61,440 per year on average.
Dental hygienists in the surrounding states (Georgia and North Carolina) are making slightly more. Cost of living throughout this area appears to be roughly comparable, though there are some estimates indicating it may actually be slightly higher in South Carolina.
So economically speaking, South Carolina may not be the most ideal place to earn a living as a dental hygienist, but then again, $59,720 is still a very comfortable salary! Plus, living in South Carolina pays off in other ways since it is such a beautiful state.
Area Name | Employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
---|---|---|---|
Charleston, North Charleston | 5 | $31.47 | $65,460 |
Columbia | 6 | $32.01 | $66,580 |
Florence | 7 | $24.52 | $51,010 |
Greenville, Anderson, Mauldin | 5 | $30.14 | $62,700 |
Lower Savannah South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 5 | $25.10 | $52,200 |
Myrtle Beach, Conway, North Myrtle Beach | 2 | $29.17 | $60,670 |
Northeast South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 1 | $27.42 | $57,030 |
Spartanburg | 1 | $28.33 | $58,920 |
Sumter | 8 | $27.39 | $56,960 |
Upper Savannah South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 6 | $28.18 | $58,620 |
Schools in near by States
South Carolina, has very attractive schools. However, maybe you consider other schools in the region. South Carolina is bounded on the north by North Carolina, on the southeast by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the southwest by Georgia.